Sounds like a naming conflict, but not! On this last day of Spring I drove over to the Wisconsin Grasslands (quite different habitat from the Boreal Forest near my home). I enjoyed seeing the bug eating grassland birds which are normally the last to arrive in the Northland, and the first to leave. While most shorebirds hang out near bodies of water, a smaller number of species call the grasslands their home. The Upland Sandpiper and Killdeer are two such birds. Unfortunately as grasslands have disappeared across North America, the Upland Sandpiper is becoming more rare.

Thus, I was thrilled this morning when not one, but two sandpipers perched on fence posts only ten yards from my car (see map for location … must be a nesting pair). In addition, there were lots of Killdeer at the Cloverland Town Hall area. In fact, driving any back road slowly in this region will yield fun finds. I saw Indigo Buntings, Eastern Meadowlarks, Bobolinks and many, many more species. Take Wisconsin Hwy 13 towards Bayfield, which is the first exit after you leave Superior on US Hwy 53/2.

Killdeer at Cloverland Town Hall

Upland Sandpiper

TakeOff and Flight (I thought I had perhaps spooked the bird, but it actually flew over to within ten yards of me, and then its mate flew up from the grass and landed on the next nearest fencepost. Some years I am lucky to see even one of these birds, and today I had the happy couple within ten yards!)